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docs(outputs.execd): Document error handling limitations #18203

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Merged
mstrandboge merged 1 commit into from
Jan 12, 2026
Merged

docs(outputs.execd): Document error handling limitations #18203

mstrandboge merged 1 commit into from
Jan 12, 2026

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@skartikey
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@skartikey skartikey commented Jan 9, 2026 •
edited by srebhan
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Summary

  • Documents the fire-and-forget communication model used by outputs.execd
  • Clarifies that metrics are considered "written" once they reach the stdin pipe, not when processed by the external plugin
  • Explains that errors from external plugins are logged but don't trigger Telegraf's retry mechanism
  • Warns users about potential metric loss and suggests alternatives for guaranteed delivery

Checklist

Related issues

resolves #17828
resolves #17845

@skartikey
docs(outputs.execd): document error handling limitations
c2a71e4 
The execd output plugin uses a fire-and-forget model where metrics are considered written once they reach the stdin pipe, not when the external plugin processes them. Errors from external plugins are logged but don't trigger retries, which can lead to silent metric loss.
@telegraf-tiger telegraf-tiger bot added area/execd Issues related to execd or plugins that would be better suited to be used through execd docs Issues related to Telegraf documentation and configuration descriptions plugin/output 1. Request for new output plugins 2. Issues/PRs that are related to out plugins labels Jan 9, 2026
@skartikey skartikey changed the title docs(outputs.execd): document error handling limitations docs(outputs.execd): Document error handling limitations Jan 9, 2026
srebhan
srebhan approved these changes Jan 12, 2026
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Thanks @skartikey!

@srebhan srebhan removed their assignment Jan 12, 2026
@srebhan srebhan added the ready for final review This pull request has been reviewed and/or tested by multiple users and is ready for a final review. label Jan 12, 2026
@mstrandboge mstrandboge merged commit fcf5998 into influxdata:master Jan 12, 2026
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@github-actions github-actions bot added this to the v1.37.1 milestone Jan 12, 2026
srebhan pushed a commit that referenced this pull request Jan 12, 2026
@skartikey @srebhan
docs(outputs.execd): Document error handling limitations (#18203)
90a1b90 
(cherry picked from commit fcf5998)
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@srebhan srebhan srebhan approved these changes

@mstrandboge mstrandboge mstrandboge approved these changes

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@mstrandboge mstrandboge

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area/execd Issues related to execd or plugins that would be better suited to be used through execd docs Issues related to Telegraf documentation and configuration descriptions plugin/output 1. Request for new output plugins 2. Issues/PRs that are related to out plugins ready for final review This pull request has been reviewed and/or tested by multiple users and is ready for a final review.

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v1.37.1

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Successfully merging this pull request may close these issues.

[[outpus.execd]] Error handling [[outputs.execd]] execd is not returning an error if an external plugin fails to write metrics

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@skartikey @srebhan @mstrandboge